Weaving machine

ABSTRACT

A weft end suction device for a jet-operated weaving machine having a weft-launching nozzle located at one side of the machine comprises a weft receiving and guiding block which is located in front of the weft-launching nozzle. The block has a suction opening for receiving the end of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine, and a launching passage extending through the block. The block is reciprocatable between a position in which such launching passage is aligned with the weftlaunching nozzle, to transmit a weft thread launched from the nozzle, and another position in which the suction opening is aligned with the path of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine.

United States Patent Van Mullekom 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] WEAVING MACHINE Hubert Peter Van Mullekom, Voortseweg ll, Deurne, Netherlands [22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1970 [21] Appl.N0.: 83,176

[72] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney-Marshall & Yeasting [5 7] ABSTRACT A weft end suction device for a jet-operated weaving machine having a weft-launching nozzle located at one side of the machine comprises a weft receiving and guiding block which is located in front of the weft-launching nozzle. The block has a suction opening for receiving the end of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine, and a launching passage extending through the block. The block is reciprocatable between a position in which such launching passage is aligned with the weft-launching nozzle, to transmit a weft thread launched from the nozzle, and another position in which the suction opening is aligned with the path of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 16F 2 WEAVING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a weaving machine of the type in which at least at one end of the weaving shed, in the space between said shed and a weft launching device arranged at such end of the shed, a weft receiving and guiding block forming part of a suction device has been provided, which block is reciprocatable between a first position in which the block is positioned with a suction opening in the path of a weft thread inserted from the other end of the shed and shields the launching opening of the said launching device, and a second position in which the block clears the launching path for a weft thread to be inserted in the shed in the opposite direction by the launching device.

Such a weaving machine has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,293. In this weaving machine the weft receiving and guiding block forms part of a tubular suction mouth connected to a suction conduit which mouth is reciprocatable in the warp direction and is controlled together with the reed movement. By the suction mouth the wefts inserted from the other side of the shed are tensioned and kept taut during the beating up by means of the reed while by said suction mouth likewise the weft ends projecting after the beating up in the cloth beyond the shed, when cutoff afterwards by an intermittently energized cutting device, are sucked off and discharged.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The invention now aims at improving said known device so that in the second position of the suction mouth and the weft receiving and guiding block forming part thereof an improved guiding of the weft launched by the launching device is obtained in the space between the launching opening and the shed.

According to the invention therefore the block is provided apart from a suction passage, also with a launching passage which in the second position of the block is aligned with the launching opening of the launching device and' bridges the space between said launching device and the shed, while said passage takes in the first position of the block a position staggered with reference to the launching opening. Said embodiment of the weft receiving and guiding block is especially also advantageous with the application of a launching device which each time brings a weft piece of double weft length hairpin shaped into the cloth. It is therewith preferable to mount the block vertically reciprocatable whereby the upper position is the launching position and the lower position is the suction position or the sucking off position respectively.

The vertical reciprocation of the block presents the big advantage that the stroke of the block may be chosen smaller since the vertical dimension of a shed is in general essentially smaller than the horizontal dimension so that with a vertically movable block a smaller displacement of the block than with a horizontally movable block is sufficient to bring the launching opening or the suction opening into or outside the delimitation of the shed. With the hairpin shaped launching of weft pieces of double length, moreover, the launching device each time with the beating up of the first half of the weft piece needs to add" less weft length.

In a practical embodiment the weft receiving and guiding block is constructed as a separate piece adjacent to the stationary mounted suction mouth, in which the suction passage bends from an opening in the block side facing the shed gradually into the warp direction to an opening in the block side slidably engaging the open end of the suction mouth, the suction passage communicating with both mentioned block sides by a slot, and the launching passage communicating through a slot extending in the weft direction with an outer peripheral surface of the block parallel to the weft direction. Thereby a weft inserted from the other end of the shed may in tautly tensioned condition laterally leave the launching passage by sliding the reed in the warp direction laterally relative to the suction opening of the block through the beating up by means of the reed without the launching of the weft half still present in the launching device (which launching has to take place later on) being impeded thereby.

By the application of astationary suction mouth further the magnitude of the mass repeatedly to be moved up and down is considerably decreased while this offers further special possibilities with reference to the further operation on and the cutting of the laterally projecting weft ends.

Making use of said possibilities, according to a further feature of the invention the upstanding edge of the stationary suction mouth facing the block and the shed is provided with a recess in the shape of a slot extending in the warp direction which recess in the suction position of the block is aligned with the slot communicating with the suction passage. Said edge recess serves as a temporary rest for the ends of the wefts inserted from the opposite machine side, projecting beyond the shed in order to permit the unimpeded placing of the block in the launching position after the beating up of wefts into the cloth. The projecting weft ends may therewith remain stored in the edge recess until they are during the further progress of the weaving process cut off by the intermittently energised cutting device into bunches of a plurality of weft ends. The cutting device thereby has to be energised less frequently than is the case with a construction according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,293 by which the weft ends have to be cut off one by one and therefore with each heating up of the reed.

it is therewith preferable to provide the suction mouth with a suction gap aligned with the edge recess in the side wall of the suction mouth, the cutting device being positioned adjacentto said suction gap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of one side of a weaving machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suction device provided at the side of the weaving machine shown in F l6. 1, in a position ready for the launching of a weft by the adjacent blowing nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but thistime with the suction device in a position ready for receiving and suction of a weft launched from the other side of the weaving machine and FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of a weft detector partially provided in the weft receiving and guiding block according to the invention. 1

In FIG. 1 the fixedly mounted jet male of a weft preparing and launching device not further shown is indicated at 1, said preparing and launching device being for example of the type as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,603 or according to U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 828,291, filed May 27, 1969. The reed 2 in known manner is movable from the inoperative position shown in the drawing in the direction of arrow 0 in order to beat up a weft 4 (inserted into the shed between the warp 1 threads 3' uniformly supplied according to arrow 1) at 5 in the cloth 6 after which the reed returns according to arrow b to the starting position shown. The cloth 6 adjacent to'the beating up position 5 is kept to its tensioned width in a known manner by means of a temple 7 extending in a transverse direction under the cloth.

In the space between the jet nozzle 1 and the side of the shed a weft guiding block 8 has been provided which is slidably-mounted and is reciprocatable in a vertical direction between a lower position (FIG. 3) and an upper position (FIG. 2) on the machine frame not further shown. The guiding block 8 comprises two passages, i.e., a lower launching passage 9'the block 8. The block 8 further comprises a slot 1] connecting the block sides and 8b with the passage 10. The passage 9 further communicates with a slot 12 extending in the weft direction and opening into a side wall 8c of the block 8-and corresponding to a longitudinal slot 1a in the jet nozzle 1..

The weft guiding block 8 at its side 8b engages the perforate side of a fixedly mounted generally tubular suction header 13 which is closed at its side remote from the block 8 and which is connected to a suction conduit 14. In the upstanding edge 15 of the suction header 13 facing the shed and the block side 8b a slotted recess 16 has-been provided which in the position of the block 8 shown in FIG. 3 joins the slot 11. In the upstanding wall 17 of the suction header 13 facing the shed there has further been provided a suction gap in the form of a slot 18 the delimiting edges thereof being joined to a U-shaped weft receiving and guiding piece 19 extending inwardly in the weft direction.

In the upper position of the block 8 shown in FIG. 2 the passage 9 is aligned with the jet nozzle 1 and thereby a weft thread prepared by the above mentioned weft preparing and launching device not further shown may be inserted via the passage 9 in the direction of arrow II into the shed which weft thread then may be transported through the shed to the other side of the weaving machine, which may or may not take place by means of intermediate jet nozzles depending on the cloth width. At the other side a receiving device for the inserted weft thread is provided which may comprise a block similar to the block 8 described above.

With the application of a weft preparing and launching device of the type according to the above mentioned patents the contemplated inserted weft constitutes one half of a weft thread of double length prepared by the said preparing and launching device, the other half of which is still stored in the said device. At the end of the insertion period the then tautly tensioned inserted weft is beaten up into the cloth 6 by a movement of the reed 2 in the direction of arrow a. Thereby the portion of the inserted weft still present in the passage 9 may leave the passage in the beat up direction laterally through the slot 12. After the beating up of the inserted weft the reed 2 returns according to arrow b to the starting position of FIG. 1. This reed movement is accompanied by movement of the block 8 into its lower position according to FIG. 3, ready for receiving and guiding a weft thread inserted according to arrow III from the opposite side. The jet nozzle 1 is in this position shielded by the block 8 while the passage 10 now lies with its opening 10a in front of the shed in the path of insertion of the now inserted weft thread. Under the influence of the sub-atmospheric pressure prevailing in the suction header the front end of the weft thread is sucked into the passage 10 and thereby drawn taut. The reed 2 thereafter is again moved according to arrow in order to beat up the weft thread in the cloth 6. The end of said weft thread sucked into the passage is thereby drawn gradually through the slot 11 from the passage 10 and from the block 8 in the warp direction into the edge recess 16 aligned with the slot 11. The weft end remains therein tensioned under the influence of the sub-atmospheric pressure prevailing in the suction header l3. Preferably during the considered beating up movement the opening 10a of the suction passage 10 is shielded by a closure plate 20 secured to the reed. Now the previously mentioned half of the weft thread of double length prepared earlier, which is still present in the weft preparing and launching device, is to be launched into the shed. However, for this first the block 8 has to be replaced in its upper position according to FIG. 2.

After the second half of the earlier prepared weft thread of double length has been launched via the block 8 brought again in its upper position and (under the influence of the suction of the block in its suction position at the opposite side) has been drawn taut, the beating up in the cloth by the reed takes place. The weft then lies together with the earlier inserted weft hairpin shaped in the cloth. At this moment the positions of both suction heads are reversed ready for launching or receiving respectively a weft thread from the not shown machine side which weft thread for instance constitutes the half of a weft thread of double length, the other half of which was inserted earlier, or constitutes the half of a weft thread of double length header l3 beyond the bottom'edge of the edge recess 16 until they are again sucked in somewhat further alongthrough the slot 18. Finally said projecting weft ends arrive guided by the guide piece 19 in the operating range of the knife 21 which is intermittently actuated to cut off the projecting weft ends. The cut off weft ends are discharged through the conduit 14. For the construction of the knife 21 there exist different possibilities. This knife may be controlled in a known manner, for instance in the manner according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,293, mechanically by the reed whereas also an electromechanic construction and actuation is possible. A very schematic indication of the cutting knife in the drawing is therefore thought to'be sufficient.

The up and down movements of the blocks 8 at both sides of the machine may be controlled in a simple manner via a cam 29 and a transmission mechanism by the main shaft of the machine so that every time during the backward movement of the reed one block is placed in the upper or launching position and the other block in the lower or suction position.

As may be derived also from the above the application of the suction device according to the invention is not limited to a weaving machine with a weft preparing and launching device of a certain type. Instead of a preparing and launching device of the type mentioned above as an example also for instance a device of the type according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,322 or a launching device with single operation (e.g., according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,024,814) is possible.

With reference to the diagram of FIG. 4 the weft detector co-operating with the block 8 will now be described. Said weft detector is essentially formed by the light source indicated at 22 in the diagram of FIG. 4 and by the light sensitive resistance indicated at 23. In reality the light source 22 fed by the voltage source 24 is arranged in a bore 25 provided in the block 8 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) opening into the space formed by the slot 1]. For this purpose the light source 22 is embodied as a miniature incandescent lamp, a Ga As-diode or a similar small light source. With 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) a second bore in the block 8 has been indicated which opens under an equal but oppositely directed angle into the space of the slot 11 so that a beam of light issued by the light source 22 in the bore 25 and reflected via the bottom of the slot llmay be received by the light sensitive resistance 23 via the bore 26. As the light sensitive resistance a CdS-resistance or a photodiode may be used and as the light conducting medium between the slot 11 and the light sensitive resistance 23 one may use therein so called fiber optics filling the bore 26 whereby the light sensitive resistance 23 itself may be placed outside the block.

Each time when a weft inserted into the shed from the other side passes by means of the reed under the opening point of both bores 25 and 26 into the space of the slot 11 this will mean a change in the quantity of reflected light which is received via the said fiber optics by the light sensitive resistance 23. The light signal obtained in this wayconstitutes an indication that indeed an insertion from the other side of the weaving machine has taken place. This light signal may be converted as shown in the diagram of FIG. 4 by an amplifier 27 into an electric signal which is necessary to keep energized the electric circuit of the drive of the weaving machine. As soon as during a weaving cycle starting from the opposite waving' machine side there is detected no weft in the slot 11, no change in the quantity of light received by the light sensitive resistance 23 will occur so that the amplifier does not give a positive signal and the weaving machine will have to be switched off or is switched off automatically. 1

For the reflection of the light issued by the light source 22 use may be made of a small mirror 28 (see FIG. 4) recessed into the bottom of the slot 11 in which case the quantity of light reflected by said mirror will be decreased each time a weft passes through the slot ll. This mirror is repeatedly cleaned by the wefts passing through the slot 11. It is also possible to use the weft to be detected itself as the reflecting having the bore 26 opening from the under side into the bottom of the slot 11.

lclaim:

1. A weft end suction device for a jet-operated weaving machine having a weft-launching nozzle located at one side of the machine, comprising a weft receiving and guiding block which is located in front of the weft-launching male and has a suction opening for receiving the end of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine, wherein the improvement comprises a launching passage extending through the block, the block being reciprocatable between a position in which such launching passage is aligned with the weft-launching nozzle, to transmit a weft thread launched from the nozzle, and another position in which the suction opening is aligned with the path of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine.

2. A weft end suction device according to claim 1 wherein the weft receiving and guiding block is vertically reciprocatable and in its uppermost position has its launching passage aligned with the weft-launching noule.

3. A weft end suction device according to claim I wherein the reciprocatable block has a sliding engagement with a perforate side of a stationary suction header, has a suction passage leading from the suction opening to another opening located in the side of the block that is in sliding engagement with the header, and has two slots in the side of the block toward the header, one of which communicates with the suction passage and the other of which communicates with the launching passage.

4. A weft end suction device according to claim 3 wherein the edge of the stationary suction header adjacent to the block and to the cloth has a slot extending parallel to the warp which is aligned with the slot in the suction passage of the block when the suction opening of the block is aligned with the path of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine.

5. A weft end suction device according to claim 4 wherein the stationary suction header is provided with a suction gap aligned with the slot in the edge of the header, and a threadtrimming device is arranged adjacent to such gap.

6. A weft end suction device according to claim 5 wherein a weft thread receiving and guiding piece of U-shaped cross section extends toward the cloth from the edges of the suction 

1. A weft end suction device for a jet-operated weaving machine having a weft-launching nozzle located at one side of the machine, comprising a weft receiving and guiding block which is located in front of the weft-launching nozzle and has a suction opening for receiving the end of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine, wherein the improvement comprises a launching passage extending through the block, the block being reciprocatable between a position in which such launching passage is aligned with the weft-launching nozzle, to transmit a weft thread launched from the nozzle, and another position in which the suction opening is aligned with the path of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine.
 2. A weft end suction device according to claim 1 wherein the weft receiving and guiding block is vertically reciprocatable and in its uppermost position has its launching passage aligned with the weft-launching nozzle.
 3. A weft end suction device according to claim 1 wherein the reciprocatable block has a sliding engagement with a perforate side of a stationary suction header, has a suction passage leading from the suction opening to another opening located in the side of the block that is in sliding engagement with the header, and has two slots in the side of the block toward the header, one of which communicates with the suction passage and the other of which communicates with the launching passage.
 4. A weft end suction device according to claim 3 wherein the edge of the stationary suction header adjacent to the block and to the cloth has a slot extending parallel to the warp which is aligned with the slot in the suction passage of the block when the suction opening of the block is aligned with the path of a weft thread launched from the opposite side of the machine.
 5. A weft end suction device according to claim 4 wherein the stationary suction header is provided with a suction gap aligned with the slot in the edge of the header, and a thread-trimming device is arranged adjacent to such gap.
 6. A weft end suction device according to claim 5 wherein a weft thread receiving and guiding piece of U-shaped cross section extends toward the cloth from the edges of the suction gap. 